A domesticated St. Bernard/Scotch Collie dog named Buck is stolen from his Santa Clara, California home and sold to freight haulers in Yukon. Crossing paths with a man named John Thornton, the two embark on an adventure where Buck finds his true place in the world.

When it comes to classic stories of adventure, courage and survival, the pages of Jack London’s The Call of the Wild is a story that pulls its audience into a daring world of America’s last great frontier. And now director Chris Sanders brings London’s vision to the big screen in what can only be described as a film of startling visual awe. Taking inspiration from both London’s words and historical fact, Sanders showcases the harsh wilderness of northern Alaska in both its majesty and brutality and builds a fantastic world for audiences to escape into. With grand visuals on display, a story like The Call of the Wild demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible and audiences are sure to be swept up into this fast-paced adventure of sled dogs and untamed land. Sanders brings considerable detail to the big screen in The Call of the Wild and recreates this exotic snowcapped landscape, with one of the film’s most impressive visuals being the recreation of the Chilkoot Pass, which has come to symbolize the struggles of those searching for fortune in this last frontier.

As a narrative, The Call of the Wild was one of the first stories to anthropomorphise its lead animal character in Buck through the application of human emotions onto an animal character. Here Buck undergoes a considerable transformation from a spoiled house pet to that of an enslaved dog before finding his calling and becoming both a fearless leader and explorer in this free land. Buck’s journey encapsulates that of Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth or The Heroes Journey and its fantastic to see this classic narrative arc unfold on screen. Sanders and noted character performer Terry Notary bring Buck to life with incredible detail and compassion and audiences, both young and old, will enjoy seeing Buck’s inner wolf come out in this story.

Joining Buck in The Call of the Wild is Hollywood screen legend Harrison Ford, who takes on the role of intrepid prospector and wanderer John Thornton. For more than six decades now Ford has been an integral part of the Hollywood machine and through his life’s work, he has come to symbolize the concept of American masculinity and the fearlessness that it represents. His turn as John Thornton is in effect another chapter to that representation as the character of Thornton summarises the evolution of that classic American spirit who yearns for one final adventure. Ford brings his considerable gravitas to the role and his performance is authentic to both the character of Thornton and the prose of Jack London and I firmly believe London himself would be proud of the character that Ford makes his own here.

The Call of the Wild is a film that is big on thematic meaning, and its title carries its biggest theme with a return to the primal nature of the wilderness. Sanders layers his film with images and visual motives that pull at Buck’s burning spirit to embrace his animalistic side as this landscape of unbroken nature pulls at the wild lineage that burns inside of him. Sanders uses some great visual motifs in doing this, such as the use of a great black wolf spirit who acts as Buck’s guide and shows him how to survive and thrive in this harsh wilderness. This focus on the environment and its preservation is a theme that London championed throughout his life and its great to see Sanders and his team keep to the legacy of London and his work.

Alongside its environmental focus, The Call of the Wild is also a story of endearing friendship between man and dog and all animal lovers will find themselves smiling in this film. While Buck suffers greatly at the hands of his human captors at the beginning of the story, it is through Thornton’s eyes that he finds a true companion and a friend and master who gives him meaning in his life once more. The same goes for Thornton, plagued by his inner demons, whom in Buck finds a purpose in his life once more, and an animal companion who will protect him to the very end. This story of man and dog is an essential story of both literature and life, and The Call of the Wild is a testament to the power of this relationship.

The Call of the Wild is a primal watch that claws at your wild spirit and takes you on a bold and untamed journey to the very edge of America’s last great wilderness. It’s a film that burns with a quest for discovery and adventure and audiences both young and old are sure to be drawn to its vast canvas and classic story.

Image: 20th Century Studios

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After he uncovers a dark secret that could lead to the end of humanity, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), a ‘blade runner’, goes in search of the infamous and legendary Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) to find the truth.

If your wanting plot, well that’s as much as you’re going to get. I pride myself on never revealing spoilers of any kind, and I must say that to attempt to refer to the plot of Blade Runner 2049 in a review would ultimately do a disservice to the scope, scale and size of this epic production. What acclaimed filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has done here is simply astonishing, and while the term auteur is regularly bandied about, and is applied to directors for just about every project, with Blade Runner 2049, the director rightfully earns this title. As a director, Villeneuve does the seemingly unthinkable and follows in the footsteps of the great master Ridley Scott, whose vision for the original Blade Runner was utterly groundbreaking. Villeneuve extends Scott’s original film into an even further future and builds a narrative that unfolds slowly, revealing a story that not only works on a narrative level but which also examines an array of complex themes.

The original Blade Runner was a stark and industrial look into a polluted and overcrowded future Los Angeles of 2017. Blade Runner 2049 is set 30 years later, and to put it bluntly the world has gone to hell. Call it the by-product of global warming gone wrong, this future is not the dream we all yearn for, but rather the dystopian nightmare we’d like to avoid. But while this slum cityscape makes for a harrowing environment for our characters, Villeneuve’s vision for this landscape is utterly magnificent. Combined with the talents of production designer Dennis Gassner and cinematographer Roger Deakins, along with the guidance of Ridley Scott, the world of Blade Runner 2049 is a stark, yet beautiful vision of a future of immense scale. Buildings rise above the clouds, and signs of animated virtual reality dance throughout the densely populated streets. This landscape becomes totally immersive in a format like IMAX. You’re pulled into this future, and find yourself marvelling at its vast proportions and epic size.

Blade Runner 2049 is far and away cinematographer Roger Deakins greatest achievement. This revered camera artist paints an astonishing cinematic vision with his use of lighting and dynamic camera work. Deakins’ eye gives the film both scale and intimacy and balances the slow burn effect of the original film, along with the quick tempo that younger audiences have come to expect from today’s cinema. I particularly liked his approach to capturing the fortified space of the Tyrell Corporation, and how his use of his camera took you for a ride in Officer K’s spinner. His approach to capturing this film is immersive and groundbreaking, and I have my fingers crossed that he will be awarded the praise of the Academy for his work.

Married with Deakin’s gorgeous cinematography are the sounds of Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch. The use of music is transportative, and the score of Zimmer and Wallfisch pulls you into this futuristic landscape. It moves from melodic and peaceful to screechingly loud and furious as the danger builds. Matched with intense sound editing. the music provides the emotional core of the film and extends the actors performances up on screen.

While I can’t go into too much detail on the cast of Blade Runner 2049 without falling into spoiler territory, I can say that they are all working at 100% here. Ryan Gosling brings a chiselled and intense performance as Officer K, a full-on blade runner whose curiosity leads him to a very dark place that could have world levelling ramifications. Harrison Ford again returns as the cynical and now aged Deckard, whose choices have left him as a haunted figure of the man he once was. Ana de Armas provides a sense of reassurance and compassion as K’s companion Joi, and Jared Leto makes a very creepy appearance as reclusive replicant manufacturer Niander Wallace, who carries a cruel and calculating god complex that makes him a very dangerous adversary.

While watching this film you absolutely believe that all of the cast are wholeheartedly invested in the outcome of this film. Each performer gives his or her all to their character and combined with Villeneuve’s layered storytelling and the film’s impressive production design, cinematography and score, all of this leads to a completely mesmerising piece of science fiction.

While I’ve only given you a snapshot of what Blade Runner 2049 is to reveal too much here would only serve to lessen the impact that this work of science fiction has on its audience. Blade Runner 2049 is a film that needs to be absorbed up on screen. Every piece of it has been rendered with a passion to tell a story that extends from the original, but which also asks new questions of its story and its characters. My advice is to watch it on IMAX if you can let it wash over you, for it is an incredible experience.

Image: Sony Pictures

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Here’s the synopsis:

Set thirty years following the events of Blade Runner, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), discovers a dangerous secret that could plunge what’s left of society into chaos. With nowhere to turn, he goes on a quest to seek out former LAPD blade runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) who has been missing for more than thirty years, and who just might have the answers he needs.

Check out the new teaser below:

Villeneuve is definitely not giving anything away with this new teaser, and presents a stark, yet heightened reality to this crazy future. Gosling brings a certain level of noir cool in the role of the mysterious Officer K, and Ford’s Deckard is now a grizzled old veteran who is still quick on the draw and trusts no one.

Not only is Villeneuve presenting some amazing visual spectacles in Blade Runner 2049, but his supporting cast is just phenomenal, with the likes of Robin Wright, Dave Bautista, Ana de Armas, Barkhad Abdi and Jared Leto playing supporting roles.

Blade Runner 2049 is set to be released in cinemas on October 5, 2017 in New Zealand and Australia and on October 6, 2017 in the US and UK.

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Set thirty years after the events of Return of the Jedi, the last remnants of The Empire have morphed into the dreaded First Order, while the Rebel Alliance fights on as the Resistance. It’s here that new characters Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) find themselves fighting alongside legends such as Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to bring balance to force and the galaxy.

5. John Williams – maestro at work

Mythic composer John Williams returns to the franchise he helped usher into cinema legend with a rousing and emotional score that gets to the very heart of the Star Wars saga, providing a sense of nostalgia, and exciting prospects for the future. With every beat you feel that a true master has meticulously crafted this stunning orchestral piece, which extends itself to every scene and truly brings the film together.

4. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away

From the moment the opening crawl beams on screen, we’re transported back to the wonder and magic of that galaxy far, far away where the Star Wars saga first unfolded. While audiences intimately know its vast setting, director J.J. Abrams and his brilliantly talented crew show us a completely new side of this universe which is filled with exotic new worlds, and the people, creatures and spaceships that populate them. This vast scope and attention to detail creates a compelling visual palette that audiences will find themselves completely absorbed by.

3. The power of the force

The power and mystery of the force, from its brightest light to the abyss of the dark side, shines through in Star Wars: The Force Awakens providing the film with its thematic centre. The emphasis placed on the force and its connection to both the characters and the general setting provides a solid base for the film to develop, as well as creating the central battle at its core.

2. Daisy Ridley and John Boyega – heroes for a new generation

For its lead protagonists, Star Wars: The Force Awakens has found two truly amazing performers in Daisy Ridley and John Boyega in the roles of Rey and Finn. Both actors demonstrate a spectacular commitment to their characters, creating two unique individuals whose motivations, feelings and actions are believable and understandable. Audiences of all ages will find a connection to each of them, and will not want to miss a second of their incredible journey on screen.

1. J.J. Abrams – Jedi master

But all the wonder and magic of Star Wars: The Force Awakens comes down to the vision and passion of one man, director J.J. Abrams, who imbues this new chapter with his own deep sense of love and reverence for the source material, and the very concept of Star Wars itself. Abrams has long said that this is a film made by the fans for the fans, and this statement couldn’t be truer when it comes to Force Awakens. It’s as if he has taken the collective desire of the Star Wars fan community, and created a piece of cinema that gives them everything they desire from a film set in this universe. With every passing second you feel his passion for the story and its characters, which has such intimacy and relevance that the film gets under your skin, and strikes a nerve. Abrams gives everything of himself as a filmmaker to The Force Awakens, and strikes the right balance between providing original material while honouring what has come before.

Image source: Walt Disney Pictures.

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After breaking out one of their own, Barney (Sylvester Stallone), Christmas (Jason Statham) and the rest of the Expendables undertake a contract to capture a notorious arms smuggler. The only catch is that the arms smuggler in question turns out to be Barney’s former teammate and co-founder of The Expendables, Conrad Stonebanks (Mel Gibson), a man who Barney had to put down after he went rogue. But Stonebanks survived, and has made it his mission to destroy the team he once called his own. The story really kicks off when one of Barney’s friends is caught in the crossfire, forcing him to recruit a younger generation of Expendables to help fill out the ranks for what will be all-out war.

Sylvester Stallone once again returns as writer and star of the lucrative franchise, and this time he’s enlisted the help of Australian director Patrick Hughes. The talented director has made sure to fill the screen with enough hard-hitting action and stoic one liners to knock the audience back into their seats.

While the team’s core troops, including Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Yin Yang (Jet Li), Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), Toll Road (Randy Couture) and Hale Caesar (Terry Crews) all return, Barney is gathering some old faces and new talent. First off, there’s Wesley Snipes as the slightly unhinged knife master Doctor Death. A former medic, and one of the original Expendables, Death has a few screws loose, but is an adapt soldier who is more than capable in a firefight and can hold his own when it comes to unarmed combat, as well as giving the Expendables resident blade master, Statham’s Lee Christmas, a run for his money. Snipes jumps into this role, and instantly steals the first fifteen minutes of the movie for himself. He brings a crazed personality to Death, as well as some much needed soulful flair.

Joining Snipes is Antonio Banderas as the acrobatically gifted Galgo. A former member of the Spanish Armed Forces and Bosnian War veteran, Galgo is desperate for a chance to prove himself and recapture his masculinity and warrior spirit once more. While Galgo produces a hell of a lot of laughs out of his desperation to experience combat again, he also carries a sense of sorrow (like all the Expendables do) from the harsh realities of war. Banderas has an absolute ball as Galgo, and is equally impressive with both his comedic and dramatic timing. He also brings this wildcard sense of energy, and passion to his fight scenes, holding his own, while also plying his irresistible charm. He’s a great addition to the Expendables roster.

But it’s not just the old dogs who are along for the ride this time, as the Expendables are getting some new blood. Kellan Lutz leads the pack as washed up former Marine John Smilee, who finds a sense of purpose and a role model in Barney, while also showing off some impressive motocross skills as he inflicts some serious damage to the bad guys. However, Barney isn’t just leaving it to the boys this time, introducing Rhonda Rousey’s Luna – a tough chick if we ever saw one. She definitely is the breakout star of this piece, and being a UFC World Champion has some serious ass kicking skills to boot. Rousey also proves that she’s got the acting chops and presence to be a major star. Additionally, The Expendables get a tech infusion thanks to Glen Powell’s thrillseeking, daredevil super hacker Thorn, as well as some badass new toys courtesy of Victor Ortiz’s high tech weapons specialist, Mars.

Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as Barney’s resident frenemy Trench Mauser, who once again picks up an assortment of high-powered machine guns to terminate everything in sight. Kelsey Grammer gets in on the action as retired mercenary and ‘talent scout’ Bonaparte, throwing plenty of comedy in Barney’s direction, while legendary actor Harrison Ford show’s up as C.I.A case officer and authority figure Max Drummer, who isn’t content to just give orders, storming out into the field behind the controls of a helicopter gunship.

But the biggest part of the whole movie comes in the form of chief villain Conrad Stonebanks, played by an absolutely pumped and very scary Mel Gibson. While Eric Roberts and Jean Claude Van Damme antagonised Barney and the boys in the first two installments of the series, Mel Gibson is the arch villain that The Expendables deserve. Stonebanks has a serious problem with Barney, and Gibson perfectly channels his hatred for his former teammate. What works is that Stonebanks is portrayed as the somewhat twisted mirror image of what Barney could have become had he strayed from the path, and their mano a mano, no holds barred final confrontation is absolutely brutal.

The Expendables 3 certainly isn’t short of action, and there’s some pretty impressive set pieces. While the new kids on the block get more attention than I had anticipated, the old dogs certainly learn a thing or two from them, and when these two generations of Expendables finally team up together the results are explosive. The Expendables are back, locked, loaded and ready for action. Boom Lay Boom.

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